Greenwich Early Music Festival 2011, 11-13 November, Royal Naval College, SE10 Options

[RoseRodent]

I desperately wanted to go, then decided it was not possible, but have now found there is another London "thing" happening on the same weekend (ESTA methods conference, really useful for my Dip) so I'm being gradually pulled in that direction. Or at least that's what I intend to tell my husband when he has to look after our daughter for the entire weekend.

Oh, and the ?89 it's going to cost just to get there then the cost of an overnight stay is a small obstacle! Even if I see what I want I'll have spent the money I could have used to buy it.

EDIT: Does anyone know if the exhibition is in the "painted hall"? The site is quite odd, it has a plan of the college but doesn't tell you which event is in which room, and then says if you need wheelchair access to the painted hall you must call in advance. I don't know if I need to get in there or not! I've enough annoying calls to make trying to sort out a wheelchair space on a train so if anyone happens to know that would save a lot of messing about.

[barry-clari]

I desperately wanted to go, then decided it was not possible, but have now found there is another London "thing" happening on the same weekend (ESTA methods conference, really useful for my Dip) so I'm being gradually pulled in that direction. Or at least that's what I intend to tell my husband when he has to look after our daughter for the entire weekend.

Oh, and the ?89 it's going to cost just to get there then the cost of an overnight stay is a small obstacle! Even if I see what I want I'll have spent the money I could have used to buy it.

EDIT: Does anyone know if the exhibition is in the "painted hall"? The site is quite odd, it has a plan of the college but doesn't tell you which event is in which room, and then says if you need wheelchair access to the painted hall you must call in advance. I don't know if I need to get in there or not! I've enough annoying calls to make trying to sort out a wheelchair space on a train so if anyone happens to know that would save a lot of messing about.

Part of it is, yes. It's full of steps, so you'll need to call in advance. Would be good to meet you, RoseRodent. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[louise1712]

why are these things always in places far far away and on days I can't do (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[barry-clari]

why are these things always in places far far away and on days I can't do (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I'll give you the second one. But it's not far far away (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) As is always the case Louise, I wish you could make it, and one of these years, you shall! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Maizie]

EDIT: Does anyone know if the exhibition is in the "painted hall"? The site is quite odd, it has a plan of the college but doesn't tell you which event is in which room, and then says if you need wheelchair access to the painted hall you must call in advance. I don't know if I need to get in there or not! I've enough annoying calls to make trying to sort out a wheelchair space on a train so if anyone happens to know that would save a lot of messing about.

As barry says, yes, a large part of the exhibition is in the painted hall.
If you look here, there is an Access Map. On a normal day you would enter the painted hall by the green dot. But, on festival day, that will be shut and we all get to use the entrance marked "restaurant". I am guessing that they just want to know how often they will need to man the accessible entrance to the right of that...


I will be there on the Friday now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
I got the EMS newsletter in the post last night, I said "Oh, EMS newsletter, it must be nearly Greenwich then!" and then said to my husband that I was thinking of going, just with a number in my head as a budget. And he said that of course I should go, given that it is only once a year it doesn't really matter what I spend as I have a year to recover from it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
Actually, Nikon have just released a new camera...so I think I am being encouraged so he can guiltlessly check out the new Nikon system (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[RoseRodent]

why are these things always in places far far away and on days I can't do (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I'll give you the second one. But it's not far far away (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) As is always the case Louise, I wish you could make it, and one of these years, you shall! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Far away is relative. Anything over 20 minutes of travelling needs serious advance planning for me. Flying is a nightmare, trains are a pain as I usually have to pay the price of an open return but am then not allowed to travel on any train I like because I have to book a ramp 2 days in advance, so must know exactly when I intend to travel. They can take two wheelchairs on each train, so they fill up really quickly - annoyingly many people book a wheelchair space then get out of their wheelchair and sit in a seat and leave the empty chair in the space so they stop me travelling for no reason at all. Then there's the fact I can't use the loo on a train (too jiggly) so journey times have to be carefully planned.

Driving is restricted at the moment as I can only manage 1 hour. I can't use a coach so anything that involves coach transfers is not possible. Ditto any stations with steps (that's almost the whole tube network then, even theoretically accessible ones as they have a habit of closing stations and chucking you out at a station you cannot get out of), then there's the last minute "Rail replacement bus" that turns up every now and then and they are stunned that you cannot levitate onto them in your chair. If parking, bus stop, etc. is more than a few metres away I need to make entirely different plans and will need an electric wheelchair, which then doesn't always fit inside the venue. Most people answer questions about distance with "not far" which is a meaningless statement so planning is really hard.

Then add in the needs, wants and desires of a five year old child (which of course wheelchair folks don't have, as the wheelchair space on a train doesn't have space for someone to sit next to your or in any way near to you) and what is not far away to most people can become a trip of several days at massive expense to another person. For many people with things like fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc. the mere act of sitting upright for more than an hour or so is torture. Everything is far away for me, I need a week in bed to prepare to go and another week in bed when I get back to recover from going, but I really want to go.

[barry-clari]

why are these things always in places far far away and on days I can't do (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I'll give you the second one. But it's not far far away (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) As is always the case Louise, I wish you could make it, and one of these years, you shall! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Far away is relative. Anything over 20 minutes of travelling needs serious advance planning for me. Flying is a nightmare, trains are a pain as I usually have to pay the price of an open return but am then not allowed to travel on any train I like because I have to book a ramp 2 days in advance, so must know exactly when I intend to travel. They can take two wheelchairs on each train, so they fill up really quickly - annoyingly many people book a wheelchair space then get out of their wheelchair and sit in a seat and leave the empty chair in the space so they stop me travelling for no reason at all. Then there's the fact I can't use the loo on a train (too jiggly) so journey times have to be carefully planned.

Driving is restricted at the moment as I can only manage 1 hour. I can't use a coach so anything that involves coach transfers is not possible. Ditto any stations with steps (that's almost the whole tube network then, even theoretically accessible ones as they have a habit of closing stations and chucking you out at a station you cannot get out of), then there's the last minute "Rail replacement bus" that turns up every now and then and they are stunned that you cannot levitate onto them in your chair. If parking, bus stop, etc. is more than a few metres away I need to make entirely different plans and will need an electric wheelchair, which then doesn't always fit inside the venue. Most people answer questions about distance with "not far" which is a meaningless statement so planning is really hard.

Then add in the needs, wants and desires of a five year old child (which of course wheelchair folks don't have, as the wheelchair space on a train doesn't have space for someone to sit next to your or in any way near to you) and what is not far away to most people can become a trip of several days at massive expense to another person. For many people with things like fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc. the mere act of sitting upright for more than an hour or so is torture. Everything is far away for me, I need a week in bed to prepare to go and another week in bed when I get back to recover from going, but I really want to go.

Assuming you're arriving at Euston or King's Cross, probably the best way to get to Greenwich is to get to the (accessible) DLR, I guess. Unfortunately, neither Tube station is accessible (don't be fooled by the wheelchair symbol on King's Cross - you'll need the Circle line, and the step's too high to get on the train, until the new S stock arrives next year (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) ) and there are also no direct buses, so at least one change is needed.

Bus route 30 goes to Angel from both stations, from there, the 43 goes to Bank, which has an accessible DLR station. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[RoseRodent]

Rose is now in possession of a train ticket and a reservation for the Saturday 6am (ouch!) train. Remains to be seen if I shall be able to arrange to do the ESTA methods event while I am down there. Arriving KX and will ask my local contacts the best wheely method from station to venue.

[Maizie]

I hope you have a good journey RoseRodent - I am going on Friday, so won't get to meet you.

Actually, Nikon have just released a new camera...so I think I am being encouraged so he can guiltlessly check out the new Nikon system (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Hmmm, today is lauch day, husband was working in London and had been telling me about launch activities that were going on in London...and he is not yet home from work, and I would have expected him any time from about two hours ago. I wonder if he is coming home with a camera?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[barry-clari]

I hope you have a good journey RoseRodent - I am going on Friday, so won't get to meet you.

I think it's likely I'll use Saturday as a rest day, with diplomas and suchlike coming up : so it's unlikely I'll meet you either, RoseRodent. But do have a good time! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Tenor Viol]

That's a good plan. It's always fun having a go at the menagerie of instruments there... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/newHere.gif) I'd like to go... working out if I can afford an overnighter... I'll have to resist the urge to buy yet another instrument (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif) Last time I went I just about escaped buying a Charlie Ogle tenor viol....

Buying some music is a distinct possiblilty as I could do with some 3 part consort music for treble, tenor and bass viol.

Might look at a new tenor bow.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/duh.gif)

[RoseRodent]

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION:
I called today to try to arrange my transport back home and disaster! There is a big football match on, which means that they will not accept reservations for any train leaving London after 15.15, even for wheelchair spaces. If I arrive for the last train of the day and there is ANY other wheelchair user there who is either before me or can make a convincing job of convincing the station staff they were here before me even when they were not, I get left in London overnight.

Not the same level of crisis for people travelling on legs, but beware that trains are expected to be extremely full and they may be turning people away from trains, including the last train home for the night.

This may only apply to my particular route, don't know who is playing the football match, but if you have plans to leave London to go north at the end of the day, make sure you know you will be able to go.

[andante_in_c]

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION:
I called today to try to arrange my transport back home and disaster! There is a big football match on, which means that they will not accept reservations for any train leaving London after 15.15, even for wheelchair spaces. If I arrive for the last train of the day and there is ANY other wheelchair user there who is either before me or can make a convincing job of convincing the station staff they were here before me even when they were not, I get left in London overnight.

Not the same level of crisis for people travelling on legs, but beware that trains are expected to be extremely full and they may be turning people away from trains, including the last train home for the night.

This may only apply to my particular route, don't know who is playing the football match, but if you have plans to leave London to go north at the end of the day, make sure you know you will be able to go.

There appears to be a friendly between England and Spain kicking off at 17.15, but I'm not sure why that would affect trains during the afternoon. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[barry-clari]

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION:
I called today to try to arrange my transport back home and disaster! There is a big football match on, which means that they will not accept reservations for any train leaving London after 15.15, even for wheelchair spaces. If I arrive for the last train of the day and there is ANY other wheelchair user there who is either before me or can make a convincing job of convincing the station staff they were here before me even when they were not, I get left in London overnight.

Not the same level of crisis for people travelling on legs, but beware that trains are expected to be extremely full and they may be turning people away from trains, including the last train home for the night.

This may only apply to my particular route, don't know who is playing the football match, but if you have plans to leave London to go north at the end of the day, make sure you know you will be able to go.

There are no league games on 12th November. It's the first round of the FA Cup, but that doesn't involve the top two divisions. England are playing Spain in the late afternoon, but the match doesn't start 'til 17:15... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[RoseRodent]

It could be a different sport, I really don't know, the train company said football, but it could be a concert, a rugby match, any other type of event which takes place in a football venue and they have just called it football. I dunno. But if you want an East Coast train after 15.15 then forget it. Or if you do manage to get a reservation definitely let me know, becuase I've been through 3 layers of the complaint system and am now considering taking them to court over this issue and they are still not budging on allowing me to make a reservation, despite the fact that reservations are compulsory for wheelchairs!!

You can't beat a good paradox